HK airport detects 1,181 forged travel documents in 3 years

HONG KONG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- About 1,181 forged travel documents were detected at the Hong Kong International Airport ( HKIA) over the past three years, Hong Kong's city government said on Wednesday.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Lai Tung kwok said in a legislative council on Wednesday that the main purpose of people using forged travel documents is to conceal their true identities or previous adverse records, to engage in illegal activities such as employment, travel or residence through entering or transiting through Hong Kong to overseas countries or regions.

"Under existing arrangements, details of stolen, invalidated or lost travel documents reported by the competent issuing authority (including HKSAR passports) will be placed in the watch list. Any person attempting to use problematic travel documents to enter or depart Hong Kong commits an offense and is liable upon conviction to a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment," Lai added.

Lai said Aviation security measures of the HKIA are specified in the Hong Kong Aviation Security Program (HKASP). The specified aviation security measures and requirements meet the relevant recommended standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"The city government will continue to closely monitor the aviation security enhancement measures stipulated and announced by the ICAO and other relevant authorities. The Civil Aviation Department will, on a need basis, require the aviation industry, such as the Airport Authority, aircraft operators and others to implement enhancement measures on a timely basis," Lai said.